Switching arrangement for electric heater circuits



May 24, 1927. 1,630,232

w. R. WALKER SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC HEATER CIRCUITS Filed May 1, 1926 INVENTOR ins ATTORNEY Patented May 24', 19 27. g

. UNITED STATES 1,630,232 PATENT OFFICE.

. l WARREN R. wALKER,'oE BLOOMEIELD, NEW JERsEY, ASSIGNOR T0 COOPER HEWITT ELEo RIc COMPANY, OF HOBQKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 01 NEW JERSEY.

\ SWITCHING ARRANGEMENG. FOR ELECTRIC HEATER CIRCUITS.

Application filed May 1, 1926. Serial No. 105,927.

My present invention relates to electric switches of the liquid flow type and to systems in which theyare used; particularly to the application of my invention to a two .resistor three heat heating apparatus and the turning oil and on of all the different heats thereof, but the principle") and features of my invention as therein shown are applr cable in the arts generally.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple economical and easily operated switchingapparatus for heating and other systems. 7

Other objects of my invention Wlll appear from the specification and drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a switching apparatus comprising three switch units mounted on a shaft or spindle for rotation thereonfor the opening and closing of the switches, and as shown in this figure all of the switches are in the open circuit position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, v

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l'but with i one of the switches closed and the other two secured a highheating effect,

Fig. 7 is a dlagram slmilar to that of Fig. 6 but with only one of the resistors connected to the source of current supply and whereby-is secured a medium heating effect, and

Fig. 8 is a similar diagram showing the two resistors connected in series whereby is secured a low heating eifect. 1

In the drawings the shaft or spindle 1 carries the switches 2, 3 and 4 mounted thereon along its length by means of the clamps 5, 6 and respectively extending about said switches near one end thereof and held in place and in the clamped position of said shaft 1 by means of the nuts 8, said shaft 1 being threaded throughout its length.

" Each of the switches comprises a longitudinal sealed envelope 10 having formed in the wall thereof near one end a bulbous chamber 11, an electrode 12 enters said envelope at its end nearest said bulb through a seal thereat and passes inwardly and downwardly into said bulb 11 and terminates therein. A second electrode 13 passes into the envelope 10 at the opposite end arid extends longitudinally into the body of the switch.

A body of mercury 14 in the main body of the switch connects with said electrode at the open circuit-and closed circuit positions of the switch in which I use them and in said closed position with a sub-body 14 of mercury which occupies said bulbous chamber 11, circuit being made and broken between the two said bodies of mercury and the latter body, 14', extending about the end of electrode 14 in all positions at which the switch of my invention is operated. The sleeves 16 mounted on shaft 1 serve as spacers between the clamp holding nuts 8, 8 and also keeps them from becoming loose.

As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 supply mains 20 and 21 of a suitable source of electric current serve the resistors 23 and 24 through lead 25 which connects from lead 20 to a common conductor between said resistors 20 and 24, said switch 4 being positioned in said lead 25; the lead 26 connects directly from mainv 21 to resistor 23; the lead 27 connects from main 21 through switch 3 to one end of resistor 24; and switch 2' connects the latter said endv of resistor 24 to lead 25 between said switch 4 and said lead 20.

In the operation of the device of my invention, the spindle or shaft 1 is mounted by a suitable means not shown for rotation, with the switches movable in and out of the position indicated by Figs. 1-5'in'clusive of the drawings. .l/Vhen heat is not desired from the resistors the switches are moved all into the open circuit position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. lVhen a low-heating efiect is desired the two resistors 23 and 24 are connected in series to the supply mains 20 and 21 by moving the switches so that switch 2 is closed and the other two open as indicated in the diagram of Fig. 8. When a medium heating effect is desired the switches are moved on the spindle 1 so that the switch 4 is closed and the other two open as shown in Fig. 4 and as indicated in the diagram of Fig. '7. When a. high heating effectis desired the switches are positioned with shown-in Fig. 5 and as indicated in'the diagram of Fig. 6, in which the resistors 23 and 24 are connected in parallel to said supply mains 20 and 21.

By means of the apparatus of my invention I provide the switching means controlling system such as described which is simple of operation, which occupies a minimum space, and is adaptable not only to domestic heating apparatus but also to industrial apparatus and has particular value for use where switching apparatus is exposed to combustibles such as oil vapors, fine dust such as occurs in grain elevators and so on which are peculiarly subject to instantaneous and disastrous combustion and in powder factories and magazines and so on.

A simple indicating device mounted on shaft 1 outside of a suitable casing apparatus not shown but well known in the arts is used for indicating the position of the switches at the various switching points. While I have shown the switches as being pivoted near one end thereof I mount them when space or other conditions require, at other points as at a pivot near their center; or I may mount some at a point near one end and others at a point near the middle to obtain switching arrangements suitable to various circuits and requirements.

To save time in mounting my switches on their supporting shaft and to secure a degree of accuracy in their assembly I provide the shaft with a flat surface along its length and switch clamps with holes of shape corresponding to that of the shaft whereby they are held against rotation and said holes being positioned with respect to the clanm itself such that they will secure the desired relative positions of the switches on the shaft when mounted in their respective clamps.

It is, of course, to be understood that my new switching mechanism is useful in the arts generally and to meet varying conditions of service the arrangement of the clamps on the shaft is modified when desired to mount the switches on said shaft so that the opening and closing of the switches is simultaneous, or the mounting of the switches may be staggered with relation to each other so that any desired sequential relation of operation is obtained.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pair'of mains for connection to a source of electric supply, two resistor elements, connection from one su ply main directly to one end of'one of said resistors, connection from the other end of said resistor to one end of the other resistor,

2. In combination with a pair of mains for connection to a source of electric supply, two resistor elements, connection from one supply main directly to one end of one of said resistors, connection from the other end of said resistor to one end of the other resistor, connection through a liquid flow switch from the other end of said other resistor to said supply main and through a second liquid flow switch to the other of said mains, and a connection from between said resistors through a third liquid flow switch toa point between said second switch and said other supply main, said switches being mounted on a horizontal axis and movable thereabout whereby the said second and third said switches can be separately moved into the closed position while the other respective two are in the open position, and whereby the said first and third switches may be moved to be both in the closed 'position while the second is in the open position.

3. In combination with a pair of mains for connection to a source of electric supply, two resistor -elements,.connection from one supply main directly to one end of one of said resistors, connection from the other end of said resistor to one end of the other resistor, connection through a liquid flow switch from the othcrend of said other resistor to said supply main and through a second liquid flow switch to the other of said mains, and a connection from between said resistors through a third liquid flow switch to a point beetween said second switch and said other supply main, said switches bein mounted on a horizontal axis and movab e thereabout whereby the said second and third said switches can be separately moved into the closed position while the other res ective two are in the open position, and whereby the said first and third switches may be moved to be both in the closed position while the second is in the open position and Whereb they can be moved to be all in the open position at once.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 29th day of April A. D. 1926.

. WARREN R. WALKER. 

